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Pentagon Suspends Sale of F-14 Parts
"DoD needs a comprehensive review of its entire surplus sales operation to ensure that we aren't arming our own adversaries, selling them equipment we still need, at bargain prices," said Connecticut Rep. Christopher Shays, a longtime critic of security gaps in Pentagon surplus sales.
Nonetheless, Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., called the decision welcome news. Kerry asked the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to investigate surplus security following the AP report.
  This Oct. 26, 2005 file photo released by the US Navy, shows an F-14 "Tomcat" from the Fighter Squadron (VF) 31 patrolling the skies over Iraq. The Pentagon retired the F-14 fleet in Sept. 2006. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., presented a bill, the Stop Arming Iran Act, that would ban the Defense Department from selling surplus F-14 parts, and prohibit buyers who have already acquired surplus Tomcat parts from exporting them. Wyden's bill is co-sponsored by the Senate's No. 2 lawmaker, Democratic Whip Richard Durbin of Illinois. (AP Photo/U.S. Navy Photo, File) (AP) 
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Iran acquired its Tomcats in the 1970s with permission from the United States. The two countries were allies at the time.
The U.S. military retired its F-14s last fall, and decided to destroy at least 10,000 parts it considers unique to the Tomcat.
It had planned to sell about 60 percent of the roughly 76,000 parts for the F-14, considering them general aircraft hardware it was safe to sell without restrictions.
The Pentagon says it has to balance national security concerns with its mandate to recoup costs by selling leftover gear when it can. It maintains it has followed proper procedures in selling surplus, including those instances where equipment was acquired by buyers for Iran and China.
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On the Net:
Read the bill, S.387, at http:/
Pentagon surplus sales: http:/
